Σ Scriptorium Press · The Plainspoken Classics

No. 11 — Loan of silver at interest, repayable from the borrower's salary

The Jewish garrison of Elephantine · a new plain-English translation from the Aramaic

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(above 1)| …

1| … r son of Yatma, [as follows]: You have given me silver,

2| [shekels] 4 (partly restored; one unit doubtful), [by the we]ights of Ptah, silver at 1 shekel to the 10; and it shall bear interest against me at silver 2 hallurs

3| to 1 shekel of silver per month, until the day that I pay it back to [you]. And the interest on

4| your silver shall be 8 (partly restored) hallurs for 1 month. And the month in which I fail to give you

5| the interest, it shall become capital and bear interest. And I will pay [it] {back} to you month by month

6| from my salary that they [gi]ve me from the treasury, and you are to write me a receipt covering all

7| the silver and interest that I pay you. And if I have not paid you all

8| your silver and its interest by the month of Thoth of year 9 (partly restored), it shall be added onto your silver

9| and its interest that remains owing by me, and it shall bear interest against me month by month

10| until the day that I pay it back to you.

11| The witnesses:

12| Akban son of Shamash-nuri;

13| Katsri son of Yahhadri;

14| Mahseiah son of Jedaniah;

15| Malchiah son of {Zechariah}.

16| Gemariah son of Ahio wrote the document at the word of the witnesses who are on this document.

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An original translation made in 2026 by Scriptorium Press, working directly from the Aramaic text (never from another English translation), in one consistent modern voice. Free to read, download, and listen — no accounts, no paywalls.

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